But in this five-set thriller, the Swiss superstar fought back from a break down in the final set to win a physical battle in the brilliant and brave style of his younger Spanish nemesis.

He took the match to Nadal – and took away the title. Serving superbly and ripping his backhand in response to the left-hander’s vicious forehand, Federer won his long-awaited 18th Grand Slam title at the grand old age of 35. And after six months out of the game with a knee injury.

It was a rollercoaster ride including 10 breaks of service – and a stunning 26-shot rally in Nadal’s final service game won by Federer with an unbelievable forehand down the line.

Each and every one of Federer's 18 Grand Slam victories (Image: Getty Images)

To the delight of the adoring Australian crowd, Federer blazed his way to six of the last seven games to win 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 in three hours and 38 minutes.

It was a battle royal between the two legends as this dream final lived up to the hype. And Federer was not just back to his best – he was better.

The first four sets had all been unpleasingly uneven with the player making the first break then taking the set comfortably. Saving the best till last in the decider, Nadal broke in the first game before Federer took control with a display of calculated controlled aggression to take his fifth title here.

“In the fifth set, I started to play more clearly again,” Federer said.

His historic wins comes after he played only seven Tour-level events last year after damaging his knee bathing his children the day after losing the semi-final here last year and undergoing his first ever surgery.

He did not play again after Wimbledon. Rested and fresh mentally and physically, he also becomes only the fourth man in history – and first since Mats Wilander at the 1982 French Open – to beat four top-ten players to win a Grand Slam.

Instead of Andy Murray, it was Federer who benefited most from the early elimination of Novak Djokovic here. The Serb had beaten the Swiss in his last three Grand Slam finals. But there was no better way to get to 18 than beating his greatest rival Nadal.

“It did feel great to share the court with Rafa,” he said. “I go back a long way with him.

Federer showed shades of his former best in the win over Nadal (Image: Getty Images)

“As much as he has hurt me and my career, he has made me a better player. I wouldn’t be here today without him. “It remains for me the ultimate challenge to play against him. So it’s definitely very special.”

Nadal, who also suffered an injury-curtailed 2016, remains on 14 Grand Slams but will now be favourite to win a 10th French Open title in June.

The Spaniard, who said he felt the effects of playing the second semi, said: “I didn’t play bad.

I believe that he played super aggressive during the whole match. It was tough to play the way I wanted to play.”